On Wednesday 5 September over 500 of the key players in retail gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, Londodn for Retail Week’s 2012 Skillsmart Retail Rising Stars Awards to celebrate the achievements of the up-and-coming stars of retail.

The award ceremony helped raise the profile of the sector’s future leaders as well as rewarding the hard work undertaken by staff in junior management positions.

Preston was well represented. Highly Commended was Simon Abram pictured here with Dragons Den TV star Theo Paphitis on stage at the prize-giving. Although not a winner on the day Simon was said to be ‘thrilled’ to be involved in such a prestigious event.

Simon Abram, Tracy Wright and Theo Paphitis

Ian McEvans, from Asda in Fulwood also in Preston picked up the Regional Store Manager of the year award for the North of England.